Lifting jack



March 12, 1957 J. F. PALKA LIFTING JACK 2 She ets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 195,3

INVENTOR. JoaephiPaZ/ka,

J. F. PALKA LIFTING JACK March 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1953 iNVENTOR. Jaaepi? [r Pal/a,

.the type having a a threaded post is in which like designating of the jack with. relation to .the vehicle above the bumper;

United States 1,784,939 LIFTING JACK Joseph F. Palka, Chicago, 111. ,Application: November 10, @1953, Serial 11003915283 4 Claims. (Cl. 254-99) The'present invention relates to rautomobile jacks of plurality of legs, within a one of t which supportable for a rotary movement, with a load-engaging membersupported for an upright shifting movement upon-said post, -with rneans for-im- --parting rotary movement to said post for shifting t the said load-engaging direction for either member upon said post .in either elevating or lowering *the :load engaged by said load-engaging member.

-In a jack of the type indicated a rotary movement is imparted to the threaded post inorderto actuate the "load-engaging member by means of a ihandle which swings upon a horizontal plane,

as is shown in my Patent No. 2,608,382. The load-engaging memberis usually a vehicle in i order to elewhich the 'loadengaging the i bumper. In the -vemotion would be incapa- Therefore, the principal object of thepresent invention 'isthe provision of means in. a jack of the character indicated wherein the operative handlemay swing in its rotary movement for the purpose hereinaboveindicated upon-a plane substantially vertical or whichtapproaches the vertical -for.the vehicle.

purpose of clearing the bodyof a Another object of the present invention is the provision of:a stud supportable-man angular relation with:the threaded post having flexible connecting means therebetween so. that when a. handleis engaged with thestud the handle would shift-upon aplaneiwhich isangular relative to thethreaded post when a manualwturningizis :imparted .to the handle for the purpose of making the handle clear the body of avehicle when the loadaengaging member is engaged with the bumperof ayehicle.

Another object ofthe present invention ;.is the provision-of. a suitable headwherein the upper: end; of the threaded post and-said stud are operativelysupported. With the above generalobjects in view and others that .will appear as the invention-is better understood, the same consists -in the novel and arrangement of construction, combination parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this-application, and

characters refer; to corresponding parts throughout theseveral views;

Fig. l is. aside elevational view of the present-jack when in its operative association with.-an automobile,

.with the load-engaging member. in engagement with the bumper, illustrating the position of. the operatinghandle the portion of the body of Big. 2 is the side elevational View of the jackwhenin the position substantially 90 degrees from that shown inFig. 1;

I "ig.' 3 is a'fragmentary side elevational view 'of the hen mi s s r jsit o Fig. '4is'a top elevational view of the jack;

jack shown therein includes relation with saidlip :13, and a --Wall-15 being atanincline. scribed it will be -noted thatthe frontportions of plates aflixed thereto'by means of sleeve .19 andthe upper end of. said. post'18 in a trans- .verse relation.

outer face of said wall ingwan additional seat fon said .25 collar =28 is positioned upon-.saidstud shaft27, incontact with said-washer 25. Pin 29 passed. through; said 2 Fig. 5 is n enlarged cross sectional view ofthehead portion of the jack, the viewhaving been taken substan- Fig. '6 is a cross sectionalview taken online 6-6 of Fig.2; and

Fig. 17 is a cross sectional view on line77 of;F ig. 6'i1- lustrating the details of construction of theiload-engaging member. '7 A Referring in detail to the present drawings thelifting the head which embodies a pair of plates 10 which are arranged substantially in a parallel mutual relation. Enclosed within said plates Hi is a frame member, generally indicatedby -11(Fig. 5), made of an oblong rigid strip ofmaterial, and snitably tormed to define base-12, lip 13 extending upwardly "from one end ofsaid base lz ina verticaldirect'ion, verticalwal1-1;4 extending from-the oppositerear end of said' basefillsaid wall-14 being substantially in a parallel stud supporting wall 15, there extending from the upper end-of said wall 14, said From the construction de- 16 in conjunction -with frame member-11 define a casin g which isopen at its front side.

-end5 is strut leg le, which is recessed at its'front edge.

tially throughout. the lengththereof. The upper smooth .end ofsaid post 18 extends above-said thrust ball bearing '17 and enters the=lower end of sleeve 19 and is rigidly bolt :21) passedthrough said The lower end of said sleeve 19-rests and: bears. against the upper. race-of saidthrust ball bear ing'17. t

Receivable Within the upperendof sleeve19-and rigidly affixed thereto by means ofta transversely passed pin :21 is hub 22, the free end of whichiabovesaid sleeve19 is forked as at=23.

The stud supportingwall'ifii has a flanged collar bearingZd passed therethrough, resting by its flange upon the :Resting. upon the flange of said bearing li is-washer-QS. 'The reducediloweriend portion 26 of stud shaft 27 is passed throughsaid bearing 24 and said washer 25, the shoulder of said. stud shaft' 27 resting uponsaidwasher 25. .For the purpose .of providstud shaft 27. upon washer collar 28 and stud shaft 27;.-in atransverse relation maint tains the two ina mutual rigid engagement.

Said reduced portion 26 of stud shaft. 2'7 extends within the casing defined bysaid frame member 11 and said plates-10 is engagedby cap 30. Thetwo are in a. rigid mutual engagement through bolt 31 passed therethrough. The free end of said eapfvil is forked as at-32.

Forks 23 and 32 are in a staggered mutual relationtand embrace rectangular block 33, from'the opposed alternate faces of which pairs ofpivot pins'34 and 35 project for 'pivotally engaging forks 23 and 32, respectively.

-Fr0m the hereinabove description:it.-will beapparent that when a rotaryvshifting movement to stud shaft 27 is imparted the same will be transferred through the medium of the. universaljointhereinabove described to hub 22 and post 18. The load carriedbysaid.p0st.18-iwill. -be supported upon said sleeve Hand the thrust ball bearing .17, the latter facilitating the rotation of s'leeve 19 with ,"the upper race ofsaidthrust ball bearing 1 .and of sa id post'18. his to' be noted that stud shaft 27 may be conhr 28. I of a circular swinging movement when knob 43 is actuleg 16,

.ment, with the free end of stud shaft 127, the free end of said attachment member 36 receiving cotter pin 37 which prevents disengagement of said attachment member 36 from said stud shaft 27. Through elbow 38 said attachment member 36 is connected with abutment member 39, which remains in a spaced parallel relation with said attachment member 36. Extending from the free end of said abutment member 39 is handle bar 40, which at point 41 only slightly removed from said abutment member 39 is bent and deflected from the plane upon which said attachment member 36 39 with their connecting elbow are located. Crank member 42 substantially in a right-angled relation with handle bar 40 with a freely rotatable knob 43 engaging the free end of said crank member 42 complete the structureof the handle whereby a rotary movement is imparted to said stud shaft 27 From the hereinabove description it will be seen that in its operative position of the handle, shown in Fig. 1, the

abutment member 39 contacts with and bears against col- In that position of the handle the same is capable ated manually, with handle bar 40 swinging upon a plane which is substantially parallel to the plane of supporting wall 15 and in an angular relation with respect to strut leg 16. In that operative position of the handle the same completely clears body 44 of the vehicle when the jack engages bumper 45 for lifting the end of the vehicle at which bumper 45 is engaged by the jack. Were the handle to turn upon a horizontal plane with strut leg 16 in a perpendicular relation therewith the handle would be incapable of clearing body 44 of the vehicle. Primarily due to the angular mutual relation of stud shaft 27 and post 18 due to the flexible or the universal joint connection therebetween the handle, as seen in Fig. l, is approximately 55 degrees from the horizontal plane when the same remains at the maximum upwardly shifted position.

When the handle is angularly swung upon its attachment member 36, the latter acting as a pivot, from its elevated position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the handle will be capable to assume an inoperative folded position substantially parallel to strut leg 16, as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby coacting with the remaining parts of the jack hereinafter described whereby the jack may assume a folded position for presenting a compact bundle or package.

The load carrier, best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, includes block 46 provided with a longitudinal bore, the body portion of the block adjacent said bore being threaded for engaging the threads of the threaded portion of post 18. The rear portion of said block 46 is arcuate and remains in a spaced relation with the arcuate rear portion of strut while the front straight face of said block 46 remains flush with front edges of the sides of said strut leg 16, as is clearly seen in Fig. 6. Projecting forwardly from the front face of said block 46 is lug 47 which is adapted to enter opening 48 made adjacent the lower end of the central wall of U-shaped bracket 49, which is'positioned ina transverse straddling relation with the recess defined byithe front edges of the sides of said strut leg 16. The

sides of said U-shaped bracket 49 are directly rearwardly wand terminate past the arcuate rear portion of said strut leg 16. Removably positioned and extended through the free rear ends of the sides of said U-shaped bracket 49 is bolt 50 which carries guide roller 51 normally in contact with the arcuate rear portion of strut leg 16. Projecting forwardly from the front plate of said U-shaped bracket and said abutment member away from said strut leg For strengthening the structure of said load engaging member 52 a pair of vertical plates 53 downwardly depend from the edges of said load engaging member 52, and are likewise joined with or integrally formed with the front plate of said U-shaped bracket 49.

When a rotary movement is imparted to said post 18 in either direction block 46 is induced to shift upwardly or downwardly to actuate to the same directions said load engaging member 52 for the purpose of lifting bumper 45 with which said load engaging member 52 is engaged, as seen in Fig. l, and with it the end of the vehicle, or of lowering the same, depending as to which direction post 18 is rotated. During the upright shifting movement of said load engaging member 52 pressure of course is exerted in a downward direction upon said load engaging member 52. As a consequence guide roller 51 is caused to strongly bear against the arcuate rear portion of strut leg 16 with which the same is in contact. Roller 51 facilitates the shifting movement of said load engaging member 52 upon said strut leg 16.

Past said vertical wall 14 of frame member 11 each of said plates 10 is crimped as at 54 for the purpose of bringing the rear wing portions of said plates 10 towards each other and receive therebetween the upper end of supporting leg 55, wherein the same is pivoted upon pin 56 for angular swinging motions to or away from said strut leg 16.

At the opposite end said supporting. leg is provided with a foot adapted to be rested upon the ground for the purpose of providing stability to the jack when in operation. Said foot includes an oblong base 57 and an upwardly projecting flange 58 extending from the rear edge of said base 57 and in contact with said supporting leg 55 at a rear. point thereof. Forwardly said base 57 is provided with an upturned lip 59 contacting said supporting leg 55 forwardly thereof. A substantially triangular plate 60 by its widest bottom edge is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to said flange 58. Said plate 60 extends upwardly along the rear portion of said supporting leg 55 and at its upper end is provided with a horizontal edge 61 which remains in a parallel relation with the bottom edge of said plate 60 or with said base 57. Bolt 62 passed through said flange 58, lip 59, the lower edge of plate 60 and the lower end of supporting leg 55, with the aid of nut 63 clamp and rigidly affix said foot to said supporting leg 55.

Cooperating with strut leg 16 and supporting leg 55 is brace 64 which is made in a form of an inverted trough, substantially U-shaped on transverse cross section. At one end the top portion of said brace 64 is provided with recess 65 causing the sides of said brace 64 to define a pair of arms 66 between which said supporting leg 55 is disposed. The free ends of said arms 66 are connected by an arcuate plate forming a hook-like downwardly extending appendage 67, which is disposed substantially in a perpendicular relation with said arms 66 and the remaining body portion of said brace 64. In the operative position of brace 64 the lower edges of brace 64, or more specifically the lower edges of said arms 66, rest upon the upper horizontal edge 61 of plate 66 with the appendage 67 engaging and contacting with the rear face of plate 60, by virtue of which arrangement said appendage 67 limits further swinging movement of said supporting leg 55 away from strut leg 16, and defines a stop beyond which said leg 55 cannot be angularly swung The opposite end of said brace 64 is provided with foot 68 from which looped U-shaped bracket member 69 upwardly projects. Said bracket 69 reposes within the channel of said brace 64 and is affixed to said brace 64 by means of bolt 70 upon which it is adapted for pivotal swinging motions to bring foot 68 to its operative position shown in Fig. 1 or its inoperative position shown in Fig. 3.,

49 is load engaging member 52 which may be integrally formed with the front plate of said U-shaped bracket 49.

Cooperating with the lower end of strut leg 16 is a'pair of td. basket late 7 ea h at wh by its vertical portion is riveted as at 72 or otherwise rigidly affixed to each side of said strut leg 16. The horizontal portion of each of said L-shaped bracket plates 71 remains in contact with the side of said brace 64 and the two of said horizontal portions of said bracket plates 71 are in a pivotal relation through pin 73 with brace 64, said pin 73 passing through said plates 71 and said brace 64.

It is observed that strut leg 16 is preferably in a contactual relation with the upper portion of brace 64 when jack remains in an open operative position illustrated in Fig. 1, so that pin 73 does not alone support the thrust of strut leg 16 exerted thereon by virtue of the weight supported by the load supporting member 52. It is also noted that in the open operative position of the jack strut leg 16 by its lower end bears against brace 64 substantially in the central portion of the latter thereby distributing the load carried by said strut leg 16 between the two ends of said brace 64. It is also observed that in the open operative position of thejack strut leg 16 remains in a substantially vertical position. Due to this arrangement the tendency of the jack to tilt forwardly toward the lifted vehicle will be eliminated.

To fold the parts of the jack in order to bring the same into a compact bundle in order to facilitate packing or storing the same, first brace 64 is angularly shifted upon pivot pin 73 until said brace 64 assumes a vertical position in parallellism with strut leg 16, as is shown in Fig. 3. During the angular shifting motion of said brace 64 arms 66 are disengaged from their contact with plate 60 with appendage 67 gradually coming in an embracing relation with supporting leg 55, until in the completely folded position of the jack said appendage 67 comes to a transverse encompassing relation with supporting leg 55, as is seen in Fig. 3.

Although hub 22 and pin 21 are provided for the sake of facilitating the assembly of the mechanism Within the head of the jack, including universal flexible joint between post 18 and stud shaft 27, aside from that for all practical purposes said hub 22 may be considered as an integral part of the upper end of post 18.

While there is described herein preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

l. A lifting jack comprising a recessed strut leg, a head, said strut leg being rigidly affixed by its upper end to said head, a threaded post extending lengthwise of said strut leg substantially throughout the length thereof, a load engaging member having a load engaging portion, said load engaging member being threaded on said post and projecting out of said strut leg through the recess thereof, the end of said post extending within said head and being journalled therein for rotary movement, a stud shaft rotatably supported upon said head with its axis disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of said post and extending from the axis of said post to the side thereof opopposite said load engaging portion, a flexible connection between said post and said stud shaft, and means for imparting rotary movement to said stud shaft for inducing rotation of said post, said load engaging member being adapted to shift upon said post when the latter rotates.

2. A lifting jack for lifting automobiles comprising a recessed strut leg, at head including hoiizontal and inclined portions, said strut leg being rigidly affixed by its upper end to the horizontal portion of said head, a threaded post extending lengthwise of said strut leg substantially throughout the length thereof, a load engaging member having a load engaging portion adapted to bear against the bumper of an automobile, said member being threaded on said post and projecting out of said strut leg through the recess thereof, the end of said post extending through 75 the horizontal portion of said head and being journalled therein for rotary movement, a stud shaft extended through said inclined portion of said head and supported therein for rotary movement about an axis disposed at an angle 5 with respect to the axis of said post and extending from the axis of said post to the side thereof opposite said lead engaging portion, said post and said stud shaft being in an angular mutual relation, a flexible connection between the adjacent ends of said post and said stud shaft within said head, and a handle connected with the opposite end of said stud shaft for imparting rotary movement to said stud shaft for inducing rotation of said post through said flexible connection, said load engaging member being adapted to shift upon said post when the latter rotates, said handle being movable in a circular path the axis of which is substantially coincident with that of said stud shaft and angular with relation to that of said post.

3. A lifting jack comprising a recessed strut leg, a head including horizontal and inclined portions, said strut leg being rigidly afiixed by its upper end to the horizontal portion of said head, a threaded post extending lengthwise of said strut leg substantially throughout the length thereof, a load engaging member threaded on said post and projecting out of said strut leg through the recess thereof, said member having a load engaging portion disposed on one side of said leg and a portion disposed Within said strut leg in contact with the walls of the latter for preventing transverse shifting movement of said load engaging member relative to said strut leg, the end of said post extending through the horizontal portion of said head and being journalled therein for rotary movement and supported thereon against axial movement under the influence of said load, a stud shaft extended through said inclined portion of said head and supported therein for rotary 35 movement about an axis disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of said post and extending from the axis of said post to the side thereof opposite said load engaging portion, a flexible connection between the adjacent ends of said post and said stud shaft within said head, and means for imparting rotary movement to said stud shaft for inducing rotation of said post through said flexible connection, said load engaging member being adapted to shift upon said post when the latter rotates.

4. A lifting jack comprising a recessed strut leg, a frame 4 member including horizontal and inclined portion-s, said strut leg being rigidly aflixed by one of its ends to the horizontal portion of said frame member, a threaded post extending lengthwise of said strut leg substantially throughout the length thereof, a load engaging member threaded 50 on said post and projecting out of said strut leg through the recess thereof, the end of said post extending through the horizontal portion of said frame member and being journalled therein for rotary movement, a stud shaft extended through said inclined portion of said frame mem- 55 ber and supported therein for rotary movement, a block disposed between the adjacent ends of said post and said stud shaft within said frame member, means pivotally connecting said block to said stud shaft for movement with said shaft and for pivoting movement about an axis extending transversely of said shaft, means pivotally connecting said block to said post for movement with said post and for pivoting movement about an axis extending transversely of said post, and means for imparting rotary movement to said stud shaft for inducing rotation of said post, said load engaging member being adapted to shift in a lengthwise direction upon said post when the latter rotates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,338,849 Adair, Jr. May 4, 1920 1,888,776 Snell Nov. 22, 1932 2,523,152 Seyferth Sept. 19, 1950 2,630,296 Lucker Mar. 3, 1953 2,671,636 Mar. 9, 1954 Olson 

